Round table on the role of best practices at border crossings in the implementation of the Harmonization Convention (Geneva, 14 June 2012)

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) organize a round table on the role of best practices at border crossings in the implementation of the International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, 1982 (Harmonization Convention). This Round table will take place at Room V, Palais des Nations, Geneva, on 14 June 2012, and is organized in the framework of the 131st session of the UNECE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WP.30) (12-15 June 2012).

The Harmonization Convention is a framework convention that lays down a number of key principles, which are sine-qua-non for border crossing facilitation, and provides for a high degree of flexibility in their implementation at the national level, due to the fact that there may be no ‘one fits all’ solution for the 55 Contracting Parties. Under this situation, examples of best practice have been found to be indispensable for the proper implementation of the Harmonization Convention. With this in mind, UNECE and OSCE have prepared and published, at the beginning of 2012, an extensive joint publication entitled ‘Handbook on Best Practices at Border Crossings: A Trade and Transport Facilitation Perspective’. The Round table will provide extensive information on the Handbook and address various examples of best practice - from the UNECE region and beyond. The Round table aims at capacity building to ensure a more effective and efficient border crossing facilitation measures and is designed for government officials responsible for Customs, transport and trade policies. It is also open to representatives of transport industry. The Round table will include presentations by experts from various governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as by representatives of countries and the UNECE secretariat. More detail can be found in a provisional programme.

Should you require more information, please contact the UNECE secretariat:

Presentation 1General introduction of the Handbook and overview of its selected chaptersMr. Roel JanssensEconomic Adviser Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental ActivitiesSecretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)